Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights
Location/Type
Australia Liveaboard
Tour type
Land Tours
Diving Type
Minke Whale Snorkel
ABOUT THE TRIP
Departing Thursday from Cairns, this epic 7 night dive adventure will give you the opportunity for up to 26 incredible dives and snorkeling with majestic minke whales! Whether you’re snorkeling or scuba diving, you can embark on minke whale excursions. The Ribbon Reefs provide clear winter waters where whales come very close, offering exceptional diving experiences. Safety measures are in place to protect both divers and whales, allowing you to observe the whales up close while giving them the freedom to approach naturally. Most close encounters with the whales occur while snorkeling on the water’s surface.
Through the Ribbon Reefs and in to the Coral Sea, you will have the opportunity to encounter clouds of colorful tropical fish, an incredible variety of vibrant healthy corals, giant clams, anemones, huge schools of cruising pelagic fish, a family of giant potato cod and our world famous shark dive at the remote Osprey Reef.
Dwarf minke whales travel through the Great Barrier Reef each winter during the months of June and July, when divers and snorkelers may have the opportunity to interact with dwarf minke whales in the warm water of the Great Barrier Reef. This is a unique and remarkable encounter. There are few opportunities in a lifetime where you can experience the thrill of sharing the water with a creature as magnificent as a Minke Whale. Join us to swim with minke whales and contribute to the ongoing research conducted by the Minke Whale Project, and assist with their multi-disciplinary research into dwarf minke whale biology and behavior.
Join us to experience the unique sounds of the minke whales in the Coral Sea!!!
$3100-$4800
Special Offer
Free Photo & Video Package
Book your spot!
Trip Leader
Alex Schmidt
Itinerary
Know More about the days
Day 1
The Spirit of Freedom courtesy bus will pick you up from your Cairns hotel around 11 am to transfer you to Trinity Wharf. There you will be greeted by the Spirit of Freedom crew, who will give you an orientation of the vessel before you depart on your 7-night liveaboard dive trip at 12 pm (noon).
Enjoy lunch on board while we cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef for an afternoon check-out dive and a twilight or night dive.
After dinner, we cruise north to the Ribbon Reefs.
Day 2 -3
These two days are spent diving at the most northern of the Ribbon Reefs, Number 9 & 10 Ribbon Reefs. We will swim with minke whales as much as possible here.
Dive sites and sequence may vary depending on the weather conditions, but will always include at least one dive at the Cod Hole, where you encounter a family of massive and very friendly Potato Cod. Other sites may include Wonder-wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Challenger Bay, Two Towers, Lighthouse Bommie, and the Snake Pit, just to name a few.
If the current is right, you may also take a drift dive at Dynamite Pass, well know as a channel for sharks to pass through. Visit our Ribbon Reefs page to learn more about our dive sites on the Ribbon Reefs. 4 to 5 dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Friday. On Saturday evening we overnight at Watson’s Bay, Lizard Island, and enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner on the top deck.
Day 4
This morning after breakfast you will have the opportunity to go ashore at Lizard Island. This is a good chance to stretch your legs on land at the halfway point of your trip! We recommend taking the guided walk from Watson’s Beach to Mary Watson’s cottage, over Chinaman’s Ridge, and back to the beach.
Around 11 am we will cruise back to Ribbon Reef Number 10 for two dives at a choice of sites including the Snake Pit, Cod Hole, Challenger Bay, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Wall, and Pixie Pinnacle.
If the tide permits we may repeat a dive at the Cod Hole or visit new sites. If the weather looks calm, we may depart in the evening for a 10-hour crossing to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. If the coral sea is rough, we will stay at the ribbon reef.
Day 5-6
Two days will be spent diving Osprey Reef (weather permitting). Australia’s Coral Sea reefs are renowned for their crystal clear water, with visibility ranging from 30 to 100 metres. The landscape is amazing, with sheer walls laced with gorgonian fans, sea whips, and bright yellow soft corals, rising from the ocean floor thousands of feet below.
‘North Horn’ is a dive site at the tip of Osprey where grey reef sharks, silvertips, and the occasional oceanic congregate, and you can experience a close encounter with the Spirit of Freedom shark attraction dive. Four to five dives will be available each day, including a night dive on Monday.
(If the weather is rough at these sites, we will stay at the ribbon reef with the minke whales.)
On Tuesday night we will depart Osprey Reef for overnight travel to the Ribbon Reefs.
Day 7
- At Ribbon Reef Number 3 we will dive such sites as the sensational Steve’s Bommie, Temple of Doom, and Flare Point. A second option for this day, in special weather conditions, is to head south from Osprey to Bougainville Reef, known for its unusual underwater landscape or caverns, and its partially submerged wreck. On Wednesday evening we will cruise overnight back to Cairns.
Day 8
- We arrive back in Cairns at 6:30 am.
- Enjoy a light breakfast onboard and a group photo opportunity, before being dropped back to your Cairns accommodation around 8.00 am.
- Chef-prepared drinks meals & snacks, wine and soft drinks are included with the evening meal
- Tanks, air fills, Nautilus Lifeline, weights and weight belt
- Mask, snorkel, boots, fins
- Daily cabin service
- Cairns hotel or Airport transfers
- GST and all reef levies and fees
- Flights
- Trip Insurance
- Dive Insurance
- Full equipment rental
- Nitrox
- Gratuities
Vessel
Wildlife
Cabins
$ 4800
$ 4700
$ 3700
$ 3600
$ 3100
About the Operator
The Spirit of Freedom was custom-built for long range cruising and optimised for the sea conditions of the Coral Sea region.
Design features such as the specific length of the vessel, combined with electronic stabilisers, ensure maximum sea keeping capability for greatest passenger comfort. Heavy duty medium rev marine diesel engines provide fuel efficiency, reliability, and low vibration and sound emission.
The Spirit of Freedom undergoes an annual four-week refit or maintenance period to keep her in top condition. She carries a current 1B Queensland survey to 260 miles offshore range, which includes all Coral Sea Reefs and islands.
Ship:
118’ with a 26.5’ beam
Takes 20 divers
10 Private Staterooms with ensuite bathroom / 2 people per cabin:
Built-in stabilizers
BELOW DECK
Cabins 9 and 10 are extra large and have two queen beds
MAIN DECK
Galley and dining room
Large Salon
Large dive deck with fully-equipped camera table
Bathroom
Fresh water showers
UPPER DECK
Cabins 1-6 have two XL twin beds. The beds are perpendicular to each other to maximize cabin space
Cabins 7-8 are larger and have two XL twin beds that can be made into one king bed
Patio area for relaxing
TOP DECK
Shaded sundeck with deck chairs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which airport should I fly into?
As our guest, you are free to enjoy your own diving style, within the boundaries of safe and responsible diving. As such we set no limits on time, depth or style of diving outside of normal safe diving practices. You and your buddy are in charge, planning your own dive and diving your own plan. Buddy teams may follow one of our inexperienced groups, led by a Safety Diver, and come and go as you please.
Every dive begins with a detailed dive briefing. The dive staff are on deck providing surface support including a safety lookout. When available, dive staff may be in-water offering support with photography and critter spotting. Spirit of Freedom does not offer a full guided dive service. Our Safety Divers are assigned to those divers who are at risk or to assist students.